SuzukiSavage.com - Cylinder head covers

spacepirates

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Igni Ferroque

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Cylinder head covers
07/28/09 at 06:56:31

Is it necessary to have them?

If I say... completely removed them, would anything bad happen?

I want easy access to the spark plug, and am considering doing the spark plug door mod (which is really just removing one bolt), but thought it might be an interesting look for the bike without the covers at all.

I ride in the rain, so i don't know if that would factor into things. Also i thought someone mentioned if you take them off you have to buy all new bolts or whatnot to put it back on (which i would like to avoid...)

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Cylinder head covers Reply #1 - 07/28/09 at 07:02:11 They're only for looks. I took 'em off long time ago. There's one bolt that's captive, cut a length of vac line to put over it and a washer then the nut.
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spacepirates Serious Thumper Offline Igni Ferroque Posts: 515 Pittsburgh, PA Gender:	Re: Cylinder head covers Reply #2 - 07/28/09 at 07:26:38 i don't understand what a "bolt that's captive" means. it needs to be threaded in/out a certain distance and so the vac line serves as a spacer? And i'll be glad to get rid of the covers... just more weight.
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Moofed Full Member Alliance Member Offline ...and the engine just gleams... Posts: 148 Bloomington, Indiana Gender:	Re: Cylinder head covers Reply #3 - 07/28/09 at 08:04:49 He means there's a bolt that is trapped in its hole by the engine. If you take the covers off then it rattles around. You can secure it in place with vac line like he says, and then next time you have the head cover off (to retorque the head bolts or fix a plug cap oil leak) you can get the bolt out completely.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Cylinder head covers Reply #4 - 07/28/09 at 08:35:08 I did the plug door mod & put a "stub" in the bolt hole, poking up far enough that the door cant swing open while the other bolt is even still snug at all. I also hacked the backside of the hole the hose goes thru on the other side, so I dont have to rassle that thing.
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serenity3743

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Re: Cylinder head covers
Reply #5 - 07/28/09 at 09:06:44

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 07/28/09 at 08:35:08:

I also hacked the backside of the hole the hose goes thru on the other side, so I dont have to rassle that thing.

Hey, I did that too the other day, just hadn't remembered to post anything about it. It seems to be just as stable as it was before. Should have done it a long time ago because invariably while "rassling" with the cover and the hose clamp, I would lose one or both of the little rubber dampers underneath the cover.

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2000 LS650P Suzuki windshield, luggage rack, saddle bag racks, k & n air filter, Dyna muffler,2/3 white spacer, do-it-myself seat. Love to ride!

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Digger

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Re: Cylinder head covers
Reply #6 - 07/28/09 at 21:17:36

verslagen1 wrote on 07/28/09 at 07:02:11:

....There's one bolt that's captive, cut a length of vac line to put over it and a washer then the nut.

I think you should probably put a shorter bolt in there and torque it to spec the next time you have the cylinder head cover off.

It is one of the cylinder head cover bolts.

Also, is there a chance that the decorative covers aid in air cooling?

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Cylinder head covers Reply #7 - 07/28/09 at 22:37:56 IDK if theyd help or hurt. Those rubber mounted things Look like they would help cool, but Id say not, because of the rubber.
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spacepirates

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Igni Ferroque

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Re: Cylinder head covers
Reply #8 - 07/29/09 at 06:57:23

Now, I've never had the covers off, so I can't say for sure their internal geometry, but a block of metal on top of the piston isn't going to cool nearly as well as a finned design.

Also, i'd imagine if it were necessary for cooling, it wouldn't be bolted on with rubber mounts, which would restrict thermal conductivity.

with them off, it would allow for more air to pass over the top of the cylinder and possibly around the top fin too.

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Cylinder head covers Reply #9 - 07/29/09 at 07:40:55 If you drill a 1/2 hole on the front of the covers and put a funnel in there,You will have forced air cooling Look cool too.
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serenity3743

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Re: Cylinder head covers
Reply #10 - 07/29/09 at 09:07:59

Digger wrote on 07/28/09 at 21:17:36:

verslagen1 wrote on 07/28/09 at 07:02:11:

....There's one bolt that's captive, cut a length of vac line to put over it and a washer then the nut.

I think you should probably put a shorter bolt in there and torque it to spec the next time you have the cylinder head cover off.

It is one of the cylinder head cover bolts.

The bolt in question has only one function: to hold half of the decorative chrome cover in place. It doesn't have any value as to holding the "cylinder head cover" (i.e. cam assembly) in place.

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2000 LS650P Suzuki windshield, luggage rack, saddle bag racks, k & n air filter, Dyna muffler,2/3 white spacer, do-it-myself seat. Love to ride!

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Digger

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Re: Cylinder head covers
Reply #11 - 07/29/09 at 19:38:13

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 07/28/09 at 22:37:56:

IDK if theyd help or hurt. Those rubber mounted things Look like they would help cool, but Id say not, because of the rubber.

Justin,

I was thinking convective cooling vice radiative/conductive cooling. Perhaps the decorative covers funnel the airstream across the top of the head cover more efficiently than what occurs with a "naked" head cover.

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Cylinder head covers Reply #12 - 07/29/09 at 19:47:54 Well, Digger, yes, YOU were thinking,, apparently, I WUZNT!!! Whatever the level of functionality, Im keepin mine..
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Digger

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Re: Cylinder head covers
Reply #13 - 07/29/09 at 19:48:18

serenity3743 wrote on 07/29/09 at 09:07:59:

Digger wrote on 07/28/09 at 21:17:36:

verslagen1 wrote on 07/28/09 at 07:02:11:

....There's one bolt that's captive, cut a length of vac line to put over it and a washer then the nut.

I think you should probably put a shorter bolt in there and torque it to spec the next time you have the cylinder head cover off.

It is one of the cylinder head cover bolts.

The bolt in question has only one function: to hold half of the decorative chrome cover in place. It doesn't have any value as to holding the "cylinder head cover" (i.e. cam assembly) in place.

Serenity,

I respectfully disagree. I just had the head cover off of mine (see signature) and the bolt in question was situated right on the edge of the sealing area of the head cover.

The FSM calls for this bolt to be torqued along with the other head cover bolts that are in close proximity to the sealing area.

If you look at the following picture, the bolt in question goes in the hole just below and to the left of the numeral "13":

You can clearly see that the bolt we are discussing is as important to a good seal as any of the other bolts are.

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Digger
2001, Metallic Glacial Blue, Raptor Petcock, Verslavy (first hole) (otherwise, mechanically, the bike is stock), 13,xxx miles
I don't own a cage.
www.astronautbiker.com

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Cylinder head covers Reply #14 - 07/29/09 at 20:01:01 Digger, the bolt we are talking about is to the left of #13, but it is the forward most bolt hole above #8. It is inserted from the underside of the head cover and is loose when the head cover is installed and remains that way untill the chrome head cover is in place. This bolt only holds the chrome head cover in place.
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